Relay.



PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

R. H. MANSON.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 190a.

UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

RAY I-I. MANSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KELLOGG SIVITCH- BOARD & SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RELAY-v SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,872, dated IVlIarch 14, 1905.

' Application filed August 3,1903. Serial No. 168,003.

To whom it W! 07%: greater eiiiciency than in the old form of re- Be it known that I, RAY H. MANsoN, a citilay, since the air-gap between the armature 5 zen of the United States of America, and aresiand magnet-core may be reduced. dent of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of One form of my invention is shown in the Illinois, have invented a new and useful lmaccompanying drawings,in which the same refprovement in Relays, of which the following erence characters indicate like parts throughis a specification. out the several views, and in which 55 My invention relates to improvements in re- Figure I is a perspective view of the relay lays, and has for its obje'ct the provision of with the inclosing shell broken away to show arelay provided with contact-springs in which the armature and springs thereof. Fig. 2 is the ends of the springs upon which the con a rear view of the mounting-plate. Fig. 3 is tacts thereof are mounted are brought fora side view of the forward portion of the re- 60 ward toward the front end of the relay and lay. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the armaare exposed to view to permit readily inspectture. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a differ- I5 ing the same at any time and under any conent form of relay provided with my improveditions of use. ments, and Fig. 6 is still a different form.

The most efficient form of relay for tele- In the figures, 2 represents the magnet-coil 5 phonic and other similar use is that in which of the relay, which is mounted upon a suitone arm of a pivoted elbow-lever forms the able core 3, that is secured at its rear end, as

armature for the relay-magnet, and the other by means of a suitable nut threading thereon, arm extends back over the magnet and serves to the downwardly-bent end 4: of a plate 5, to operate the contact-springs. This form of that extends parallel with the coil 2 to a point 7 relay, while exceedingly efiicient, is open to substantially in line with the forward end of the objection that the rearwardly-extending the core 3. The core 3 and the plate 5, in-

2 5 arm which operates the contact-springs hides cluding the portion 4, form the fixed part of the contacts of said springs, so that unless the the magnetic circuit of the instrui'nent, which relays are individually mounted, which is selcircuit is completed by the downwardly-ex- 75 dom the case in an ordinary installation, it is tending portion 6 of the bent armature 7, the impossible to inspect the contacts to deterarm 8 of which extends rearwardly and nor- 3 mine whether or not they are in proper workmally rests upon the outer face of plate ing condition. In an ordinary telephone in The switch-springs of the relay consist of stallation of the common battery or relay type sets of superposed metal strips 9, 10, and 11, these relays number many thousands and to which are mounted upon said plate 5 at the economize space are located side by side in rear end thereof and secured in place by suitrows, so that only the front ends of the reable screws 12 passing therethrough and lays are exposed to view. When, therefore, threading into the plate 5. These springs are the contacts upon the springs are hidden by superposed and are separated by suitable 5 the armature as aforesaid, it is impossible to strips of insulation and are likewise insulated inspect the same without dismounting the refrom theplate5, the screws 12 passing through 4 lay, and this is inconvenient, ifnot practically suitable insulated bushings in the ordinary impossible. manner, so that each spring is electrically iso- In the relay of my invention I still employ lated from the other parts of the device. The 9 the elbow type of armature, but arrange the free ends of these springs extend toward the rearWardly-extending arm thereof and the coforward end of the magnet and are suitably operating springs in such manner that the spaced apart by an insulating-stud 13, the

ends of the springs are brought forward into head of which rests upon the plate 5 and bevieW and are not hidden by the rearwardlyneath the spring 9 to suitably space the same extending arm of the armature. I also secure from the plate 5, the said spring being given a tension toward the plate 5, so that this stud is likewise held in place. The stem of this stud passes freely through an aperture in the central spring 10, and the spring 11 rests upon the outer end of the said stem, this latter spring being likewise given a normal tension toward the plate 5, so that it is spaced therefrom by the said stud. These springs are provided at their forward end with platinum contacts 14, the lower spring 9 being bent at 15 to raise its forward end. In order that the armature'may operate the springs without obstructing the front view of any of the contacts 1 1, the said portion 8 is cut away, as at 16, Fig. at, to permit the said spring 15 to pass therethrough, and the outer ends of the arms 17 formed by said cut-away portion are bent upwardly to a slight extent at their outer ends and carry the transverse pin 18, extending beneath the spring 10. A suitable insulating-sleeve 19 is placed upon said pin and serves to engage and lift the spring 10 when the armature is actuated. Suitable insulating-washers 20 are also carried upon said pin 17 at the ends of the sleeve 19 to prevent any lateral displacement of the armature with reference to the springs. With this arrangement it will be seen that the portion 8 of the armature does not obstruct the view of any of the contacts 1 1 of the springs from the forward end of the relay. The armature in this particular instance rocks upon the corner of the plate 5 as a fulcrum and is held in place by the screw 21, projecting from the end of the plate 5, upon which the lock-nut 22 is threaded.

Fig. 3 shows the normal position of the armature, which does not quite touch the forward end of the core 3, and when a suitable electric current passes through the magnet said armature is attracted and the portion 8 thereof is lifted and serves to move the spring 10 from contact with the lower spring 9 and into contact with said upper spring 11. It will be evident that the invention is not limited in all its phases to the method of pivoting here shown.

The relay thus far described is shown as provided with duplicate sets of springs; but it will be evident that a greater or less number of sets may be provided and that the number of springs in each set and the arrangement and operation may be varied according to the particular results to be accomplished in each case.

I have shown the relay mounted upon a circular plate 23, having a threaded exterior upon which the dust-proof shell 24 may be threaded to entirely inclose the relay. This plate 23 is insulated from the supporting-plate 25 by means of a thin sheet of fiber 26 or other suitable material, and the core 3 of the relay is provided with a reduced end 27, as shown in Fig. 2, extending through a suitable insulating-bushing 28 to the rear of said plate 25 and upon which a nut 29 is placed to clamp the whole device securely into position upon the plate 25. The ends of this plate 25 are shown broken away; but it will be understood that in an installation for a large number they would be mounted side by side with only a slight clearance between them. The terminals 30 of the magnet-coil project through said plate 25 and are insulated therefrom, while the rear ends of the springs 9, 10, and 11 also project through a suitable aperture of said plate and to which the circuit-00mluctors are adapted to be soldered. To prevent the armature from sticking to the forward end of the core 3, a rivet 31, of non-magnetic material, such as brass or copper, is carried by the armature and is adapted to engage the end of the core when the armature is attracted.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to a type of relay in which a plate 5 is employed, but is adapted to be used in those relays in which a shell 32 is employed in place of the plate 5, as shown in Fig. 5,

the lower end 8 being of suitable form to cooperate with the shell. Fig. 6 shows the invention applied to relays in which a single bar 33, preferably of cast-iron, 'fOl'll'lS the shell of a plurality of magnets. My improvement, it is apparent, increases the efficiency of the relay, for the reason that the spring 10, owing to its greater length, requires a less range of movement than in the old type, and therefore the air-gap between the portion (5 of the armature and the core 3 may be reduced. In the type of relay of Fig. (5 the close arrangement of the sets of springs makes my improvement of especial value.

\Vhile I have described one particular construction embodying my improvements, 1 do not desire to be limited in all respects thereto, as it is apparent that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In arelay, the combination with amagnet structure,of an armatu re-lever having one arm extending across in front of one end of the magnet of said structure and adapted to be attracted by said magnet and the other arm extending rearwardly at the side of said structure, said armature-lever being pivoted to said structure, a set of superposed switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said structure and having their free contact-carrying ends extended to near the forward end thereof and outside of said rearwardly-extending arm, whereby the movement of said armature shall operate said springs without obstructing a full view of the contacts from directly in front of the magnet structure.

2. In a relay, the combination with a magnet structure, of an armature-lever consisting of two arms at an angle to each other, one arm extending across in front of the magnet structure and adapted to be attracted thereby and the other extending rearward] y at the side of said structure, said armature-lever being pivoted to said structure adjacent the angle of said parts, a set of switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said structure and having their free contact-carrying ends ad jacentthe forward end thereof and outside of said rearwardly-extending arm of said armature-lever whereby the contacts carried by said springs are exposed to view from the forward end of said structure, and means engaging the springs at a point behind the contacts for operating said springs by said rearwardly-extending arm of the armature-lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a magnet structure, of an armature-lever therefor consisting of two parts at an angle to each other and pivoted at the forward end-of said structure, one part of said armature extendingacross in front of the magnet structure and adapted to be attracted thereby, while the other arm extends rearwardly at the side of said structure, a set of switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said structure and at the same side of the structure as said latter part of the armature, said set consisting of a plurality of superposed springs, the free ends of said springs being raised above the plane of said rearwardlyextending part of the armature, and a member carried by said latter part of the armature engaging an intermediate spring of said set at a point to the rear of the contacts of the springs to operate the same when the magnet is energized, substantially as described.

4. In a relay, the combination with a magnet structure, of an armature-lever consisting of two parts at an angle to each other, said lever being pivoted adjacent the angle of said strue-' ture and having one part extending across in front of the magnet structure and adapted to be attracted thereby while the other part extends rearwardly at the side of said structure, said latter part having a portion cut away and a transverse member in the rear of said portion, a set of switch-springs mounted longitudinally of said structure, a lower spring of said set passing through said cut-away portion of the armature-lever and beneath said transverse portion, the other springs of the set passing above said transverse portion of the armature and terminating adjacent the free end of the lower spring. whereby the contacts of said set of springs are exposed to View from the front end of the relay and said springs are operated by said transverse part of the armature engaging the springs at a point to the rear of the contacts of the springs, substantially as described.

5. In a relay, the combination with a magnet structure, of an armature-lever consisting of two arms at an angle to each other, one arm ex tending across in front of the magnet structure and adapted to be attracted thereby and the other extending rearwardly at the side of said structure, said armature lever being mounted to rock upon an edge of said structure, a set of switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said'structure and having their free ends adjacent the forward end thereof and outside of said rearwardly-extending arm of said armature-lever whereby the contacts carried by said springs are exposed to view from the forward end of said structure, and n'icans engaging the springs back of the contacts thereof for operating said springs by said rearwardly-extending arm of the armature-lever, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a magnet structure, of an armature-lever therefor'consisting of two parts at an angle to each other and adapted to rock upon an edge of said structure, one part of said armature extending across infront of the magnet structure and adapted to be attracted thereby, while the other arm extends rearwardly at the side of said structure, a set of switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said structure and at the same side of the structure as said latter part of the armature, said set consisting of a plurality of superposed springs, the free ends of said springs being raised above the plane of said rearwardly-extending part of. the armature, and a member carried by said latter part of the armature engaging an intermediate spring of said set back of the contacts to operate the same when the magnet is energized, substantially as described.

7. The combination with amagnet structure, of an armature-lever therefor consisting of two parts at an angle to each other and adapted to rock upon an edge of said structure, one part of said armature extending across in front of the magnet structure and adapted to be attracted thereby, while the other arm extends rearwardly at the side of said structure, a set of switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said structure and at the same side of the structure as said latter part of the armature, said set consisting of a plurality of superposed springs, the free ends of all of said springs being raised above the pivotal point of the armature, and a transverse member carried by said latter part of the armature and engaging under an intermediate spring of said setback of the contacts to operate the same when the magnet is energized, substantially as described.

8. In a relay, the combination with a magnet structure, of an armaturelever having one arm extending across in front of one end of the magnet of said structure and adapted to be attracted by said magnet and the other arm extending rearwardly at the side of said structure, said armature-lever being pivoted to said structure, a set of superposed switch-springs disposed longitudinally of said structure and having their free contact-carrying ends extended to near the forward end thereof and outside of said rear\vardly-extending arm, and means for operating said springs by the movement of said armature and at the same time leaving all the contacts of said springs exposed to View from directly in front of the magnet structure, said means engaging the springs at a point back of the contacts, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, this 30th day of July, 1903.

RAY .H. MANSON. \Vitnesses:

ROBERT LEWIS Aims, (JAZELLE BEDER. 

